Mbappe double at Villarreal takes Real Madrid top of La Liga

Kylian Mbappe scored a brace to secure a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid against Villarreal on Saturday, propelling his team to the summit of La Liga.

Under Alvaro Arbeloa, the squad now leads Barcelona by two points, with the Catalan side facing Real Oviedo on Sunday.

Mbappe, the leagues leading marksman, hit 21 goals this season in La Liga, aiding Madrid in overcoming a determined Villarreal outfit that sits fourth.

Arbeloa's group has secured three successive wins in various tournaments, and this triumph at Villarreal might prove crucial in turning around their campaign.

Following the unexpected Copa del Rey loss to second-division Albacete in Arbeloa's debut game, his Madrid side is beginning to gel.

The manager has emphasised the value of his key talents, and no one has shone brighter this term than Mbappe, with 34 strikes in all competitions.

"(Mbappe and Vinicius) rank among the worlds finest, they possess the ability to disrupt opponents, we aim to deliver the ball to them frequently," Arbeloa shared with Real Madrid TV.

"They are performers who... I am delighted to count on in such peak condition, particularly due to their excellent efforts.

"Their dedication to the collective is evident, they lead the pressing... they offer the commitment and unity we require, so I am thrilled their contributions yield goals."

The match kicked off with energy yet lacked precision at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica, where play was vibrant but neither team posed a genuine threat.

Georges Mikautadze unleashed a volley just wide after veteran striker Gerard Moreno delivered a lofted pass to him.

On the opposite side, Madrid's Arda Guler struck directly at Villarreal keeper Luiz Junior following neat interplay, then blazed over from a quick counter.

Villarreal suffered a setback when Juan Foyth exited injured, yet they fashioned a solid opportunity for Pape Gueye near half-time.

The Senegalese midfielder, fresh from Africa Cup of Nations glory last week, drove his shot just past the upright.

Vinicius, standout in Madrid's midweek Champions League 6-1 thrashing of Monaco, nearly scored with a fierce strike that skimmed across Luiz Junior's net and wide.

The 25-year-old Brazilian winger extended his run to 13 La Liga games without a goal, but contributed to Mbappe's opener two minutes after the restart.

Mbappe makes the difference

Vinicius drove into the area from the left and his cut-back was parried, allowing Mbappe to poke in his 20th league strike of the season from near the line.

Villarreal dominated much of the second period in their bid to equalise, but Moreno wasted their clearest opening by blasting over from a promising position.

In added time, Mbappe was tripped by Alfonso Pedraza inside the penalty area, and the Frenchman coolly chipped the spot-kick to confirm Madrid's success.

Teammate Brahim Diaz, who had fluffed a Panenka penalty for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations decider, witnessed it upon his return for the club.

"We need greater precision upfront versus such opponents," conceded Villarreal's Alberto Moleiro.

The Yellow Submarine trail table-toppers Madrid by 10 points, despite one game in hand compared to Arbeloa's outfit.

Meanwhile, fifth-placed Espanyol lost 3-2 at Valencia, slipping seven points adrift of Villarreal.